GOP candidates turn focus to Michigan

DETROIT, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Republican presidential contenders are turning their attention to Michigan, now that the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary behind them.

Two of the GOP hopefuls have ties to the Wolverine State, which holds its primary Jan. 15, The Detroit News reported Wednesday.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is a Michigan native whose father was a three-term Michigan governor. Arizona Sen. John McCain, who won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, won an upset in Michigan in 2000 over the eventual GOP nominee, then-Texas Gov. George Bush.

Despite McCain's momentum going into the Michigan primary, state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis called the state race "wide-open," saying McCain, Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- who won last week's Iowa Republican caucuses -- all had a chance to do well.

Romney has spent more than $1 million on TV advertising in Michigan and has an established campaign team in place there, the newspaper reported.